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This is an industry-only version of an email that Country stations in dozens of top markets deliver
to their loyal listener databases.

March 28, 2014

» Not Going To Loss Vegas:

The entire world of country music maybe relocating to Las Vegas in about a week, but that doesn't mean folks want to leave winning to chance. As in years past, fans can vote for important categories including Entertainer and New Artist, so some artists are campaigning to take a trophy at the 49th Annual ACM Awards. Watch Entertainer nominee Luke Bryan crash a baby shower here and a wedding here, while Taylor Swift consults the Princess of Kitty Town here. As for New Artist nominees, Kip Moore deals with TMI here, Brett Eldredge proves he's been everywhere here, and Justin Moore gets the help of Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Darius Rucker and more in multiple videos here. After you've watched all those, vote here.

» Line Liner:

The first ever Florida Georgia Line This Is How We Cruise music festival at sea is set for Nov. 8-12 aboard the Norwegian Pearl with guests Nelly, Thomas Rhett, Colt Ford, The Cadillac Three, Canaan Smith and Chris Lane. The cruise will sail from Miami to Norwegian's private island Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, and back. Get in on the action here.

» Mama Said Rock You Out: ACM Presents: An All-Star Salute To The Troops will be co-hosted by NCIS: Los Angeles stars LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell, and feature performances from Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Hunter Hayes, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler and Keith Urban. They join previously announced performers Merle Haggard, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry. The show will be taped April 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast May 20 on CBS-TV. Proceeds benefit ACM Lifting Lives. More here.

» Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Josh Thompson has chopped off his signature pony tail to donate his hair to Locks of Love."I'd been thinking about buzzing it all off for awhile," he says. "I was ready for a change. I really like it, though. My head's a lot lighter now!" He tells the whole story in the People Country April issue.

» Black & White & Web All Over:

Blake Shelton "threw a boozy Texas love fest." – Culturemap Houston
David Nail battles through depression and more to find "confidence and positivity." – The Tennessean
Easton Corbin is "totally comfortable in his role as traditional country's heir apparent." – Houston Press
The Band Perry were "a youthful blast of country-pop energy." – Houston Chronicle

» In Case You Missed It: Jerrod Niemann celebrated the release of High Noon with a performance of "Drink To That All Night" on ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday (3/25). Watch here.

Frankie Ballard performed "Helluva Life" on Conan Wednesday (3/26). Check it out here.

Brandy Clark made her debut appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Monday (3/24), performing "Stripes" from her album 12 Stories. Check it out here.

Hit List

Vince Gill, Ashley Monroe, Charlie Worsham, Striking Matches, Jenny Gill and Holly Williams will perform at the 16th annual Jammin' To Beat The Blues concert April 1 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The show benefits Mental Health America Of Middle Tennessee. Tickets are available here and at the box office. More on the charity here.
A series of club concerts featuring Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen, Kristian Bush, Tyler Farr, Kyle Park, Chase Rice, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Josh Thompson, Randy Rogers Band and The Swon Brothers have collectively raised more than $36,000 for ACM Lifting Lives. More here.

Birthdays

Friday (3/28): Rodney Atkins, Reba.

Saturday (3/29): Brady Seals.

On TV

Monday (3/31): Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC).

Upcoming Album Releases:

April 1 Josh Thompson Turn It Up

April 1 Dan + Shay Where It All Began

April 1 Charlie Daniels Off The Grid - Doin' It Dylan

April 8 Martina McBride Everlasting

April 15 Oak Ridge Boys Boys Night Out

April 15 Ray Price Beauty Is...

Apr. 22 Rachele Lynae Rachele Lynae

» Shake It For Me: Luke Bryan (r) shows Charlie Daniels how to work it during Daniels' Scholarship For Heroes Concert at Lipscomb University in Nashville (3/25). Bryan got in on "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" and the "South's Gonna Do It Again." Other performers included Clint Black, Kellie Pickler, The Grascals, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters and the American Hitmen.

» Here For A Good Time: Kenny Chesney (l) joined George Strait onstage at the Nashville stop of his Cowboy Rides Away Tour last week (3/21) for a duet of "Amarillo By Morning." For the record, Strait actually headed to Atlanta in the morning.